The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-28
THE WESTERN UNITARIAN CONFER
EN0E FINDS A TONGUE.

oil AutclcSo even greater Gnau usually
attaches to the gatherings of that some
what unique body. None of its meet
ings can be uninteresting, partly on
account of the character and ability of
the men and women who compose them;
partly on account of the task they al
ways set for themselves Of keeping up a
religious platform, broad enough for
all good people to stand upon. Last
year the centrifugal forces in the Con-
ference were too strong to be restrained.
The effort to extract from it declara-
ton of principles which should warn
off the atheist or the agnostic, failed of
its purpose, and, instead, resolution
was passed, welcoming to the confer
ence, all who wished to help establish
''truth, righteousness, and love in the
world" This was the meeting which
declined to make its platform the build
ing up Of the kingdom of God," be-
cause the word God was deemed too
dogmatic. The result of that action, as
is well known, was the split in the
ranks Of Western Unitarianism, and
the formation of q "Western Unitarian
Association" to cooperate with the
eastern body of the same title, upon a
platform of avowed Christianity.
1t was clear from the action of the
conference last week, that the events
of the past year had not been without
their effect. And the body of Unita-
rians which has gone farther than any
other in America, in absolute refusal to
apply any ''dogmatic tests, or to affirm
any doctrines as essential in religion,
or even to allow any vote to be taken
which should so much as inform the
world as to the belief of the majority of
the churches calling themselves Uni
tartan, has at length receded from this
extreme position, SO far as to tell "what
Unitarianism commonly stands for"
To be sure, that will not seem very
much to some people. 1t is not very
impressive act for man to tell what
he and his neighbors commonly think as
to politics, or as to religion. And it
would not seem, to one, at least, ignor
ant Of the history of Unitarianism, a
very improper or impolitic thing to
frame some sort Of statement which
should serve as an answer to the ques-
ton, sure to be asked of any religious
body, what do you believe" But
Unitarians have always been unwilling
to formulate anything which should in
the most remote way suggest creed,
or seem to bind anybody to dogma, or
attempt to publish concensus of opin-
ions. And most sensitive and reluctant
of all their representative bodies, has
been the Western Conference.
But the halt which was called last
year by some of the more conservative
men and women of the West is followed
this year by the striking action of the
meeting at Chicago. The initiative
was taken by Mr.. Gannett, who pre-
faced the resolutions he offered with a
temperate and candid speech, in which
he urged most vigorously that the &C
ton proposed was in full accord with
Unitarian policy; that it committed
nobody to the declarations it would
make; that it was not creed; that
full fellowship would still be extended
to those who would not be included I'M
der its statements. But he urged that
the conference was perfectly compe-
tent to make statement of what things
were commonly held by Unitarians,
and that something ought to be done
"to answer with compact fullness the
chronic question Of inquirers, What
do Unitarians believe p" He then in
troduced the following resolutions
RESOLVED, that, while the Western Uni
tartan Conference has neither the wish
nor the right to bind single member by
declarations concerning fellowship or
doctrine, it yet thinks some practical
good may be done by setting forth in
simple words the things most commonly
believed to-day among us,-the state
ment being always open to reinstatement,
and to be regarded only as the thought
OF the majority.
Therefore, speaking in the spirit and
understanding above set forth, we, dele
gates of the Western Unitarian Churches
in Conference assembled at Chicago,
May -, 1887, declare our fellowship to
be conditioned on no doctrinal tests, and
welcome all who wish to join us to help
establish truth and righteousness and
love in the world.
And, inasmuch as many people wish
to know what Unitarianism commonly
stands for, speaking always in the spirit
above set forth, we make the following
statement OF its past history and our
present faiths.
These resolutions were followed by
a brief history of the denomination
from its first period, when "Channing
was their leader" though the second
movement, in which Emerson and
Theodore Parker have been their real,
though at first unaccepted leaders,"
A statement was made as to the terms
of fellowship in the Unitarian body, a
fellowship without articles of doctrinal
belief, and based solely on a love of
truth and goodness. From under the
head Our Doctrines" the declaration
goes on to say:
With few exceptions we may be call